Golf club carrier



Oct. 16, 1962 F. M. POWERS GOLF CLUB CARRIER Filed oct. 27, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Il M W Q@ www wz/fw@ F. M. POWERS GOLF CLUB CARRIER Oct..16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1958 w M y M Wfjw.

United States Patent G 3,058,504 GOLF CLUB CARRER Frank M. Powers, 7 310Central Ave., River Forest, Ill. Filed Oct. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 769,915 1Claim. (Cl. 15G- 1.5)

'Ihis invention relates to golf equipment. It is more specificallyconcerned with portable apparatus for transporting golf clubs by theplayer during the course of play.

With increased leisure time the popularity of golf has steadilyincreased and play has become easier and more pleasant for the averageman because of convenient golf courses and the availability .ofeconomical golfing equipment. In the game of golf a variety of lies areencountered for the various shots during the course of hitting the ballfrom the tee and finally hitting or putting it into a small hole placedupon the green necessitating the use of a plurality of different clubsin order that each stroke can be skillfully played to eect the objectiveof hitting the ball from the starting point to each successive hole inthe fewest strokes. The average player will generally have a set of golfclubs consisting of from five to ten so-called woods and irons. In orderto carry the golf clubs some sort of carrier is used. Generally golfbags are employed wherein the clubs 'are deposited. Satisfactory golfbags are generally cumbersome, heavy, and expensive because of theamount and kinds of material required in their fabrication. AlthoughCaddies can be employed to carry the clubs for the player during a roundof golf, the majority of golfers personally carry the set of clubs.These clubs, although previously manufactured with wooden shafts, arenow manufactured employing ferrous metal or steel shafts of variousdesigns.

According to this invention the carrying of golf clubs by players isfacilitated by employing a light weight portable standard having mountedthereon a plurality of magnetized club supporting brackets whereby anumber of metal shaft golf clubs are stably held on the standard atspaced positions to facilitate their removal.

The subject invention is more fully understood by reference to thedrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the instantinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of a bracket employed as one of thesupport means utilized in the embodiment of this invention shown inFIGURE l.

FIGURE 5 is another embodiment of the golf club carrier of thisinvention wherein the golf clubs are retained in a substantiallyvertical position on a standard mounted on a cart chassis.

FIGURE 6 is a side View of the golf club holder shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of the club supporting bracket employedin the embodiment shown in FIG- URE 5.

Referring to the drawings, in FIGURE l is shown a preferred specificembodiment of this invention comprising a frame 10 fabricated from apair of tubular elements 11 and 12. Each of these elements is similarand has a stile portion 13 and 14 terminating in right angled elbows 15and 16. VI'he adjacent upper ends of elbows 15 and 16 are coupled bymeans `of a tubular sleeve 17 which engages the free ends of elbows 15and 16 and is fastened thereto. Sleeve 17 also serves as a convenienthandle for carrying the assembly. The Alower ends of tubular elements 11and 12 are provided with inwardly con- (ice verging portions terminatingin straight portions which are contiguously joined by means of anencircling ferrule 18. To permit the golf club carrier frame to beinserted into the ground to maintain it in a self-supporting,substantially vertical position spear 19 is fitted into ferrule 18. Ifdesired there can also be provided a foothold for pedally applying aforce to drive the spear 19 into the ground.

To retain the metal shaft golf clubs in position on the frame of thegolf club lcarrier a plurality of pairs of brackets 20 and 21 aremounted in opposed positions on Stiles 13 and 14 of tubular elements 11and 12 respectively. These brackets are fabricated from anon-ferromagnetic -material of construction and comprise an outwardlydepending ledge 22 to which is laterally affixed upstanding flange 23.The 4bracket is secured to the stile by means of downwardly dependingflange 24 which is secured to the stile by riveting or otherconventional means of fastening. Positioned -on the outwardly dependingledge 22 is a permanent ferromagnetic body 25 having the property ofattracting ferrous metals. `In the illustrative embodiment magnet 25 isshown as a solid body having a rectangular configuration and held inposition by means of a fastener pas-sing through the flange and magnetand secured to the stile. Each member of theV bracket pair is oppositelymounted on the stiles of the `frame which are spaced apart sufficientlysuch that a golf club positioned thereon is held stably in place andresists gravitational displacement from the bracket. It is apparent thatas many pairs of brackets are provided as will be necessary to carry -aselected set of steel shaft golf clubs. In the illustrative embodimentshown in FIGURE l a mounting bracket is mounted on each side of thetubular stile to provide two pairs of mounting brackets at each positionon the stiles in order to reduce the overall length of the carrier. Ifdesired, auxiliary equipment can be installed on the golf club carriersuch as the pivotally mounted golf ball rack 26 which is suspendedbetween the opposed stiles and held in position by outwardly dependingaxles which are journalled therein at the lower portion adjacent theinwardly converging ends.

Although in the foregoing embodiment the golf clubs are supported in asubstantially horizontal position on the carrier, it is also apparentthat the subject invention can be utilized to retain and support thegolf clubs which are carried thereby in a substantially verticalposition.

In FIGURE 5 is shown a structure wherein the golf clubs are held in avertical position. yIn this e-mbodiment of the invention the golf clubcarrier is in cart form which consists of a rear frame 3i) having sidelegs 31 and 32 which are joined at the top by means of a transversetubular element 33 which also serves as a handle for moving the golfclub carrier cart. Affixed to the lower ends of legs 31 and 32 isplatform 34 upon which the club head rests. Platform 34 is fabricatedfrom a single sheet of metal shaped to form side flanges 3S and 36 andrear flange 37 which provides surfaces to which the ends of legs 31 and32 can be secured.

The club holding brackets in this embodiment comprise notched channels38 and 39 which are utilized to engage the Shaft of the club and hold itin a stable position. The opposed legs of the channel are provided withpairs of notches 40 and 41 in which the club shaft rests. Affxed to theweb of the channel behind said notched pairs is a ferromagnetic body 42lfor retaining the club shaft in position. IIn order to provide a mobiledevice which can be readily pulled over the ground by the golfer, groundengaging wheels 43 and 44 mounted on axles 45 and 46 are secured to thelower portion of the frame. In order to support this embodiment of thegolf club carrier in a vertical position at rest, downwardly andoutwardly depending leg 47 is aiixed to the marginal edge o-f platform34.

In fabricating the golf club carriers of this invention conventionalmaterials of construction can be utilized for the various elements ofthe apparatus other than as specifically noted above. To `facilitatefabricating the carrier, tubing which can be readily formed is preferredfor the frame member. The club supporting Ibrackets are made from anon-ferromagnetic material of construction, preferably a metal such asaluminum, brass, etc. However, non-metallic materials can be used. Themagnets are mounted in these brackets suiciently spaced apart so as toengage a suiiicient extent of the club shaft to retain it in a stableposition in said bracket and resist gravitational displacement of theclub.

lIn the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 the side stiles and bracketssecured thereto are spaced about 7 inches apart. Other' spacings can beused; in general, however, spacings'of 6-l0 inches are suicient.Although spaced brackets are shown, the club supporting bracket can be achannel shaped member having the magnets suitably mounted therein at thedesired spacing. This latter arrangement is employed where the clubcarrier standard consists of a single column. For example, channelshaped brackets can be attached to the supporting column of so-calledchair canes which are a combination Walking stick and collapsible chair.

Conventional permanent magnetic materials can be used for the magneticbodies which are mounted on the club supporting brackets and utilized tohold the metal club shafts in position. In order that the magnetsemployed be suiciently strong to hold the clubs in position Withoutbeing too large in size, it is preferred that magnets prepared fromalloys of aluminum and nickel, e.g. Alnico, Alnic, etc. be employed;however other permanent magnetic materials can be used. The magnets canbe in bar form, as shown. =If desired, especially if aluminum-nickelalloys are used, the magnet can be enclosed in a separate housing whichcan be readily attached to the club holding bracket. fln catches of thistype steel pole pieces are held on each end or side of the magnet. Thesepole pieces extend through the face of the housing beyond the sides ofthe magnet to engage the metallic shaft of the golf club. ln thesestructures the magnet assembly loosely iits Within the housing to permita lateral movement of the pole pieces and magnet combination. Suchassemblies in suitable housings are conventionally employed as storagecupboard catches.

It is apparent from the foregoing detailed description of this inventionthat various modifications can be made in the specic illustrativeembodiments without departing from the scope of this invention. Althougha plurality of magnetic bodies are utilized in fabricating the clubsupporting bracket, it is apparent that a single length of magneticmaterial could be utilized. This, however, is uneconomical and it ispreferred that a pair of spaced magnets be fitted in the various typesof brackets utilized for'supporting steel club shafts throughout asufhcient extent to provide a club mounting bracket which will retainthe club in a stable position without being displaced by its own Weight.Various designs for the standard, such as frames, single columns, etc.can `be employed for mounting the club holding brackets. The-sestandards can be provided with convenient hand grips for transportingthe golf club carrier with the clubs in the vertical or horizontalposition. For golf club carriers lwhich are designed for transporting anumber of clubs it may be necessary to utilize a Wheeled carriage suchas that shown in FIGURE 5. This modication can be provided withretractable Wheels or other provisions for minimizing the storage spacerequirements for the carrier.

The illustrated embodiment Wil suggest to those skilled in this artother variations and modifications which can be made Without departing`from the scope of this invention. Accordingly it is intended that thesubject invention be limited only in the manner set forth in theappended claim.

What is claimed is:

A portable carrier for ferrous metal shaft golf clubs which comprises aportable standard, a plurality of golf club supporting bracketspositioned in spaced relationship along said standard, each of saidbrackets comprising a web portion laterally extending from saidstandard, means for securing said web to said standard, and anupstanding arm portion secured to said web, ferromagnetic means mountedon said brackets and positioned thereon to engage a sucient extent offerrous metal shaft to retain the golf club in a stable position on saidbracket and to resist gravitational displacement of the club, said armportion extending above said ferromagnetic means and cooperatingtherewith to facilitate retention of the golf club on the supportingbrackets.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,297,806 Smith Oct. 6, 1942 2,414,653 Lookholder Ian. 2l, 19472,474,036 Curley June 21, 1949 2,547,829 Mills Apr. 3, 1951 2,590,154Burns Mar. 25, 1952 2,737,990 De Marco Mar. 13, 1956

